POPLAR RIDGE - After watching a 12-point lead shrink to five by halftime, Southern Cayuga coach Will Schonfeld decided to make some defensive adjustments.
And whatever he preached in the halftime locker room, his girls listened.
The Chiefs bolstered their defensive pressure and dominated a clearly flustered Oxford squad after intermission. Eighth-seeded Southern Cayuga held the ninth-seeded Blackhawks to nine second-half points and ran away with a 52-29 victory in the first round of the Section IV girls basketball tournament Tuesday.
“Defense was definitely our point of emphasis,” Schonfeld said. “(Oxford) was using cuts inside to find their scorers and we weren't defending it well. But the girls really came out hard (after halftime) and put the pressure on.”
The Blackhawks, who at one point had four straight turnovers, didn't pick up a second-half field goal until there were 46 seconds left in the third quarter. With the Chiefs' half-court pressure stifling Oxford, the offense picked up in turn. Southern Cayuga scored on three straight baskets and Molly Osterhoudt drilled a 3-pointer to put the Chiefs up 34-22.
Osterhoudt and Lukas found reserve Stephanie Morse wide open for two consecutive layups in the final seconds of the third quarter, helping Southern Cayuga outscore Oxford 17-4 in the frame.
“When our defensive pressure picks up, our offense clicks,” said Osterhoudt, who led the Chiefs with 15 points. “That's when we're able to push the ball and get some shots.”The Blackhawks could never quite get comfortable defensively in the quarter. Osterhoudt's hot hand from the outside kept Oxford honest, but when they pressured her, she weaved her way past the defender for the easy hoop or the easy dish to a teammate. She finished the game with four assists.
“Molly had that feel out there. She controlled the game nicely,” Schonfeld said. “Tonight she stepped up and showed that she's a real leader on this team. When we needed her to hit a shot, she did.”
IAC Division III MVP Lukas didn't have a good shooting night but did help Southern Cayuga control the boards, hauling in 13 rebounds.
With foul trouble limiting the minutes of senior Lindsey Doeing, the Chiefs got a big lift from their bench. Morse was in the right place at the right time, scoring six points off three straight layups in the second half. Marissa Burns also provided a spark, contributing four points and three big offensive rebounds late in the game.
Lukas finished with eight points while Lianna May scored nine. Oxford was led by Julie Davis who scored eight points.
Southern Cayuga (10-9) advances to play top-seeded Elmira Notre Dame, the defending state champion, on Friday. The Crusaders beat the Chiefs twice this season en route to a perfect 19-0 record.
“It's going to be a hard, fast-paced game,” Schonfeld said. “If we go out there, play basketball like we know we can, play with intensity, that's all I can ask for.”
The Chiefs bolstered their defensive pressure and dominated a clearly flustered Oxford squad after intermission. Eighth-seeded Southern Cayuga held the ninth-seeded Blackhawks to nine second-half points and ran away with a 52-29 victory in the first round of the Section IV girls basketball tournament Tuesday.
“Defense was definitely our point of emphasis,” Schonfeld said. “(Oxford) was using cuts inside to find their scorers and we weren't defending it well. But the girls really came out hard (after halftime) and put the pressure on.”
The Blackhawks, who at one point had four straight turnovers, didn't pick up a second-half field goal until there were 46 seconds left in the third quarter. With the Chiefs' half-court pressure stifling Oxford, the offense picked up in turn. Southern Cayuga scored on three straight baskets and Molly Osterhoudt drilled a 3-pointer to put the Chiefs up 34-22.
Osterhoudt and Lukas found reserve Stephanie Morse wide open for two consecutive layups in the final seconds of the third quarter, helping Southern Cayuga outscore Oxford 17-4 in the frame.
“When our defensive pressure picks up, our offense clicks,” said Osterhoudt, who led the Chiefs with 15 points. “That's when we're able to push the ball and get some shots.”The Blackhawks could never quite get comfortable defensively in the quarter. Osterhoudt's hot hand from the outside kept Oxford honest, but when they pressured her, she weaved her way past the defender for the easy hoop or the easy dish to a teammate. She finished the game with four assists.
“Molly had that feel out there. She controlled the game nicely,” Schonfeld said. “Tonight she stepped up and showed that she's a real leader on this team. When we needed her to hit a shot, she did.”
IAC Division III MVP Lukas didn't have a good shooting night but did help Southern Cayuga control the boards, hauling in 13 rebounds.
With foul trouble limiting the minutes of senior Lindsey Doeing, the Chiefs got a big lift from their bench. Morse was in the right place at the right time, scoring six points off three straight layups in the second half. Marissa Burns also provided a spark, contributing four points and three big offensive rebounds late in the game.
Lukas finished with eight points while Lianna May scored nine. Oxford was led by Julie Davis who scored eight points.
Southern Cayuga (10-9) advances to play top-seeded Elmira Notre Dame, the defending state champion, on Friday. The Crusaders beat the Chiefs twice this season en route to a perfect 19-0 record.
“It's going to be a hard, fast-paced game,” Schonfeld said. “If we go out there, play basketball like we know we can, play with intensity, that's all I can ask for.”
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cp wrote on Feb 21, 2007 10:53 AM: